Box-making machine



sept. vzo; 1927.

1,642,913 c. H. VON GLAHN BOX MAKING MACHINE- y Filed Now/"F21, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 Se t. 1

P 2p 9,27 c. H. voN GLAHNA BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 attouwff atentexl Sept. 20, 1927;

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. VON GLAHN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

yBox-iviMilner MACHINE.

Application filed November 21,1924y Serial No. 751,245.

ment of mechanism to strip the boxes ory trays from the die on which they are` formed, to transfer' the boxes toa stacking mechanism, tostack the boxes in piles, and to remove the piles from the stacking station after a predetermined number of boxes have been arranged in' each pile.

Another feature of this invention consist-s in box` forming, stacking, and counting mechanism adapted to operate in cycles, whereby after the formation of a pile of boxes con- Yaininga predetermined number, the boxes will be automatically removed and a new pile started. y

'i'he illustrated machine comprises a .stripping mechanism adapted to remove finished boxes from the die, anda gripping mechanism arranged adjacent to the dieto receive the boxes as they are removed. The grip ping mechanism is movable With a box 'therein about a horizontal axis through an arc of le s than, 1800 to a position above a horizontal revolvable stacking table having a plurality of stations adapted to successively receive a supply of boxes. Suitable connections are provided between a counting mechanism and the stacking table through which the latter is revolved to bring an empty station beneath the grippers as soon as a predetermined number of boxes has'been deposited at the preceding station.

These and many other important features of this invention will appeaifrom the foliowing description read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.l

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a side elevation of a preferred form ofthe invention;

Figures 2, 3, and 4t are detailed views of the grippers and the actuating means therefor: and

Figure table.

The general features of the type of box forming machine herein .shown are described in detail in my prior patent. Only such portions of the mechanism referred to as intimately related to the novel features of the 5 is a plan view of the stacking the' die head.

vof, operation of the machine.

invention Will be described herein, and for further information as to the details of constructionof the machine, reference may be made to the .said patent. f

ln its general aspects, the box forming machine .includes a fixed male die member 2,. about which are formed the blanks from which the trays or boxes are formed. Mounted for cooperating With the die member 2 is the female blank bending and forming meellanismfconsisting of the presser 'foot i adapted to hold the blank upon the top the patent above referred to.

After the formation of a box, the folding mechanism and the lpressure plate are lelevated above the die, and the box is ready to be removed. To this end, a stripper bar 10 is arranged to reciprocate vertically along one side of the die 2, the upper end of the bar moving in avslot 12 provided in one side of The stripper bar l() is actuated by a link 14 connected at one end to the lower end of the bar and at its other end to' -a second link 16 pivoted to the frame of the ranged in the path of a cam 22 upon a .main f.

drive shaft 24, a` spring 2G serving to maintain the roller 2O in Contact with the cam.

From' this construction, it will be evident that rotation of theshaftQei will elevate the bar lO to lift one side of the formed box from thev die 2 at a predetermined time in the cycle The gripping mechanism for receiving'and transferring the stripped box from the die Mounted 1n suitable will nowbe described.

bearings on the side of the die yopposite to the i B8 adapted to pivotally support a movable gripper jaw 40 which cooperates with ixed jaw 32 in a manner hereinafter described.

j The movable gripping jaw 40 comprises a flat plate 42 having the central portion cut away as at 44 to form upstanding arms 4G adapted tocooperate with the jaw 32 to form itl() therewith a pair of relatively movable gripper jawsbetween which the boxes are held in a manner hereinafter described.

The bottom of the gripper element 40 is formed with alined ears 48 adapted to receive the shaft 38 previously described. Surrounding the shaft is a spring 50, the ends of which bear respectively against jaw 32 and against the lower edge of the movable gripper jaw 40 to yieldingly urge the latter toward the fixed jaw 32.

The movable jaw 40 is provided on one side with a downwardly extending tail or arm 52, the lower end of which is arranged in the path of a cam 54 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 28. From this construction, itwill be evident that at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the machine, the cam 54 will actuate the m-ovable jaw 40vto .move away from the fixed jaw 32.

ln order to normally retain the jaws 32 and 40 in open relation, a bar 56 is provided, having an angularly bent end 58 adapted to project beyond the front face of the aw 82 to engage an extension 60 projecting from one side of the movable jaw 40, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and v W hen the bar 56 is engaged with the extension 60, the movable jaw will vbe locked in open position, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

The bar 56 is pivoted intermediate its length to aboss 62 formed upon the rear face of the fixed jaw 32, v The bar 56 is provided upon its lower end with a cam surface 64 arranged in the path of the cam 54 previously mentioned. The construction is such that engagement between the cam 54 and the bar 56 will cause the latter to move about its pivot to disengage the end 58 of the bar from the extension 60 on the movable jaw, thereby allowing the spring 50 to close the jaw members. A spring 66 secured at one end to the aw 82 and connected at its other end to the bar 56 tends to yieldingly pull the upper end of the bar toward the jaws so that whenever the jaws are positively opened'by the cam 54, the end 58 of the bar 56 will .snap into the path of the projection 60 to hold the ljaws in opened position until the bar 56 is again moved about its pivot by the cam 54 in the manner previously ldescribed.

The cam 54 for opening the gripper jawsV is formed integral with a sprocket wheel 68, which is continuously driven from a sprocket wheel upon the drive shaft 24 by means of a drive chain 72.

In the initial or starting position, the gripper jaws are in the position shown in Figure 1, the jaws being open and the fixed jaw 32 being adjacent to and in cont-act with one face of the die 2. hen a box is molded about thedie, the jaw 32 will lie between `one side of the box and the die in a manner clearly understood. The operation of the parts is so timed that after the stripper l() has elevated one side of the box from the die, the movable jaw 40 will be released by the bar 56 to grip the box against the fixed jaw 32.

78 is connected by a link 82 with a secondV bell crank 84 mounted upon a'st-ationary pivot 8.6. The free end of the 'crank 84 is provided with a roller 88 adapted to engage a cam 90 upon the drive shaft. By the rotation of the shaft 24,. the shaft 28 will be actuated through the mechanism described to swing the gripper jaws into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 4. As vwill be seenl from Fig. 1, the cams are so related that .shaft 28 lwill have rotated through an appreciable angle before cam 54 has moved tail 56 to permit the aws to snap together'. Further rotation` of the drive shaft will cause the jaws to be opened by the cam 54 acting upon the tail 52 of the movable jaw, thereby' releasing the box therefrom. v

As previously stated, this invention contemplates the provision of a. stacking and counting mechanism by meansof which the finished boxes are arranged in piles containing a predetermined number, each pile being then automatically conveyed away from the stacking station. The mechanism for performing these operations will now be described. y

Conveniently located at one side of the box forming mechanism is a' box receiving table or turret indicated generally atv 95. The turret is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 96 on the end of each of which is provided a box receiving and stacking unit 98. The turret is fixed upon a centrally arranged shaft 100 rotatably mounted in vertical bearings 102, one

of which is formed in the supporting frame 104, the other being formed in a base member 106. Mounted loosely upon the shaft 100 is a gear 108 formedy integral with a friction clutch element adapted to c ooperate with the clutch element 112 fixed to the shaft. The gear 108 is driven by a worm 114 upon a horizont-al shaft 116 mounted in the frame 104. The shaft 116 is connected to any convenient source of power so as t-o be continuously driven. The turret 95 will be rotated about the central shaft 100 through the cooperating clutch elements 110 and 112 in a manner clearly understood.

The shaft has fixed `thereto a disk member118 having a plurality of notches 120 in the periphery thereof corresponding in number' to the arms 96 of the'turret. Pivoted upon the stationary frame as at 122 is a pawl or dog 124 havingv its inner end slightly bent to adapt itto enter the notches upon the disk 118 to hold the shaft 100 and there-fore the turret 95 against rotation.l A spring 126 is connected at one end to the dog 124 and at its other end to the lframe as at 128 to urge the end of the dog against the periphery of the'disk at all times.

The outer end of the dog 124 is provided with a roll .18() which is arranged in the path of a cam 182, the latter being adapted at a predetermined point in the operation of the machine to release the dog from the disk 118 to allow the table to be turned through a quarter of a revolution by the friction clutch elements. The manner in which the ram 182 is actuated Will be described in `detail hereinafter. f n

Upon the outer end of each arm of` the turret is .a horizontal box receiving platform or table 184. The construction and mounting of each of these platforms is identical and a description of one will sutlice. Each platform 184 is provided upon its ends with ears 186 having vertical openings therein adapted to receive vertical rods 188 and arising from the upper face of the turret. lu the preferred construction, the rod 188 is plane, While the rod 140 is threaded for a purpose hereinafter explained. Pivoted upon the lower face of the platform as at 142 is a thin pawl element 144 adapted to partially surround the threaded rod 140 and enter the .grooves therein, a spring 146 serving to yieldingly urge the paWl element against the rod. From this construction, it will be clear that the platform Will be connected to the threaded rod so as tobe actuated upon any rotative movement of the latter. Adjacent each side of the platform 184 are vertical guide plates 148 adapted to retain the boxes in proper stacked relation upon the platform.

The yarrangement of the turret With respect'to the forming mechanism is such that when the turret is stationary, one of the platforms 184 will be in position to receive a box from the gripper mechanism after the latter has been swung to its delivery position, as illustrated in FigureA 1. Upon the delivery of each box to the platform, the threaded rod 140 is automatically rotated to lower the platform an amount sufficient to keep the top of the pile at'substantially the same vertical level. Tothis end, the lower` end of the threaded rod is extended through an opening in the turret, flanges 150 being formed thereon above and beloW the turret whereby the rod is permitted to rotate While held against axial movement.

y Upon the end of the rod 140 is mounted Iafgear 152 adapted to mesh with a stationary gear 154 beneath the delivery station. The gear 154 is mounted upon a vertical stub shaft 156 suitably supported in the frame of the forming mechanism. The shaft 156 is provided with a spiral gear 158 driven by a Worm 160 carried by a horizontal shaft 162. This latter shaft is driven from the main drive shaft 24 by a chain 164 trained about suitable'sprockets provided upon the after a predetermined number of boxes have been deposited thereon. rllhe means whereby such movement is effected comprises a crank arm 166 secured to one end of the shaft 162, the said arm being connected by a link 168 to a pawl carrier 170 pivoted at The 172 to one end of the turret frame. member carries upon the lower end thereof a paWl 174 adapted to engage the teeth in a ratchet- Wheel 176 loosely mounted upon the shaft 116. The Wheel 176 carries upon its inner face the cam 182 through 'i Which the locking dog 124 is disengaged from the disk 118 in a manner previously explained. The Wheel 176 is formed with a number of teeth equal to the number of boxes which it is desired ito have in eachpile.

Upon the rotation of the shaft 162 which occurs with the delivery of each box, the

Wheel 126 is advanced one tooth or notch.

After a complete rotation of the Wheel 176,

the cam 182 will move the dog 124 to release the shaft 100, whereupon the turret 95 will be rotated one-quarter of a turn by the friction clutch elements 110 and 112. During this movement of the turret, the platform containing ya pire of boxes Will be moved away from the delivery station and the next succeeding empty platform Will be moved into box receiving position.

Upon the completion of each pile of boxes, it is evident that the platform 184 on which the pile is supported Will have been moved downwardly by the threaded rod 140 to a point adjacent the upper face ofthe turret. After the finished pile has been removed from the platform, the lockingfpawl 144 is moved out of engagement with the threads of the rod whereupon the platform can be readily elevated toits initial position.

- Since the manner in Which the different parts of. the machine operate to perform their functions and the sequence of the operation as a whole have been set foi'th in connection with the detailed' description of the machine, no further description of the operation is necessary 'for an understanding of the invention.

lt/*hat I claini and seek to have protected by Letters Patent is:

l. In coiiibination with a box making niachinc having a fixed male die over which blanks are formed. means for stripping` the formed boxe' from the die and means for ,Qripping the stripped boxes and transferring them l'roin the die to a, stacking` table.

2. In combination with a box making' ina.- chine having4 a fixed male die over which blanks are formed, means for stripping the formed boxes from the die, a. pair of coopcrafting' "aws adapted to receive the boxesv as the latter are strijiped from `the die. and means for moving the jaws 'to a discharge position.

3. In combi-nation with a box making machine havinff a fixed inale die over which blanks are termed,r means for stripping the boxes from the die, a` pair oi cooperatincl jaws adapted to receive the boxes as the latter are removed Jfrom the die` means for moving' the aws to transfer the boxes away from the die. and means. for separating` the jaws to release a box carried thereby.

4i. In coii'ibination with a box making` inacliine having' a fixed male die over which blanks are formed, means 'foi' strippingv the foi'inedboxes from the die, a pair of cooperating' jaws arranged adjacent to the die in position to receive the boxes as they are stripped from the die, means for simultaneously rotating' the jaws to transfer the boxes away from the vicinity of the die into a delivery position. and means to open the jaws to release a box carried thereby after the jaws have been moved into a delivery position.

In combination with a box making machine having a fixed male die over which blanks are formed, a movable member adapted to strip the formed boxes from the die, 'gripping members adapted to receiveI the stripped boxes from the die. and means for n'ioving` said gripping; members to a discharging' position. Y

6. In combination with a box making niachine havinaj a fixed male die over which blanks are formed.r means 'tor stripping the formed boxes from the die, a pair of pivoted cooperating' jaws adapted to receive the boxes adjacent the die, means for holdingr the jaws open to receive a box therein,

VLeaaeia fineans for releasing the jaws to""cl'ai`np tbox. means for simultaneously moving the jaws to transfer a box away from the vicinity of the die, and means to open the jaws to release a'box therein.- l

7. In combination' with a box making' ina- 'chine having1 a. fixed vdie ovei' which blanks rfirst mentioned member and cooperating ytherewith topjrip the stripped boxes, and means for simultaneously moving said jaws to a discharge position.

'8. In combination with a box making' inachiiie having' a. die over which blanks are formed, means forl stripping the formed boxes from the die, a. rotatable shaft adjacent 'the die. a fixed gripper jaw mounted upon said shaft and adapted in one position to engage a side of said die, a movable gripper aw pivoted to said xedjaw, means for normally urging said jaws together, means for' holding' the jaws separated to receive a box therein, means for rotating the said shaft to carry thejaws away from the vicinity of the die, means for' releasing the jaws when they have moved into delivery position, and means for` rotating the shaft in an opposite direction to return the jaws into a box receiving position.

9. In combination with al box making: inachine having a. die over which blanks are formed, means Vfor stripping the formed boxes from Y the die. a rotatable shaft mounted adjacent said die, a fixed `gripper jaw secured to said shaft and adapted to' engage one side of said die. a movable `gripper jaw pivoted to said .fix-ed jaw. means for normally urging said* jaws together, a downwardlyA extending' tail formed on said movable jaw, means adapted to engage said tail .and move vthe movable jaw away from Vthe fixed jaw, a bar pivoted upon the rear face of the xed jaw having` an angular end adapted to project beyond the front face of the fixed jaw in the path of the movable jaw to hold the jaws in spaced relation to receive a box tliei'ebctween, means adapted to move the bar about its pivot to diseng'zige the movable jaw and permit the jaws to close. and means for moving' the lgripper jaws to transfera box carried thereby away from the vicinity of the die.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES II. VON GLAHN. 

